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3.75 AVERAGE
3.75 AVERAGE
Read this as a kid, mostly holds up. Very creative but some stuff doesn't age super well.
adventurous
emotional
funny
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Good, but very much the first in a series rather than a complete story.
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
An interesting but mixed bag. It's imaginative and unusual – I've not read anything quite like it – but it ultimately feels like a bit of a missed opportunity. The book is at its strongest in the first half, where, like the protagonist Corwin, we're fumbling to get to grips with the setting and stakes. Amber is an intriguing world and the magic is exciting, though it all feels a bit made up on the fly.
I struggled with the writing style the most. There are multiple layers of anachronism to contend with: the of-its-time voice of Corwin's narration, speaking of digging stuff and getting creamed; his relative antiquatedness when in the modern world; and his equally alien modernity when in the magical world. I'm sure there's a degree to which the use of slang and language is intended to be jarring, and sometimes it works in fun, pulpy way, but it often goes a few degrees beyond that, just leaving me a bit baffled as to the book's desired tone.
I admire Zelazny for gunning for an epic scale while briskly avoiding an epic page-count, but the snappy length comes at the expense of rounded characters and a defined world. I'm curious to read more Amber because I have so many unanswered questions, but if the writing style remains much the same, I'm not sure I'll be sold on the series.
I struggled with the writing style the most. There are multiple layers of anachronism to contend with: the of-its-time voice of Corwin's narration, speaking of digging stuff and getting creamed; his relative antiquatedness when in the modern world; and his equally alien modernity when in the magical world. I'm sure there's a degree to which the use of slang and language is intended to be jarring, and sometimes it works in fun, pulpy way, but it often goes a few degrees beyond that, just leaving me a bit baffled as to the book's desired tone.
I admire Zelazny for gunning for an epic scale while briskly avoiding an epic page-count, but the snappy length comes at the expense of rounded characters and a defined world. I'm curious to read more Amber because I have so many unanswered questions, but if the writing style remains much the same, I'm not sure I'll be sold on the series.
adventurous
We follow Corwin as he attempts to regain his memories (the amnesia trope done exceptionally well) and figure out what his place in Amber is. We meet his various siblings and possible allies as he journeys through Amber and rediscovers his memories. This book is rambling and strange. Most done by a strange combination of stream of consciousness and random descriptions of the world around him. Recommended to me by a friend with the caveat that the book was incredibly weird but still very good. I'm glad I read it. I never would have picked up the book without her recommendation. Would highly recommend if you're looking for something short and very different from the average fantasy novel.
Based on the review of N. Trachta (thanks, Nate), I decided to plunge ahead with this one (what made this choice even better was when I found all ten stories in one anthology at a used bookstore!).
A man wakes up in a hospital room, without memory of who he is or exactly how he got there. All he knows is that was badly injured and currently being drugged. After escaping the hospital, he discovers his sister, Flora, who tells him that his name is Corwin. He meets up with his brother, Random, who leads him to Amber, a mystical world, which unlocks his memory and reawakens his desire to rule over Amber.
What I Liked:
The first page really drew me in. We meet a man lying in a bed, realizing groggily that he is being drugged and has no idea who he is. I like how we learn about him at the same time he does (no long boring, unnecessary exposition here; it's all a part of Corwin's learning about himself and his history).
Corwin is resourceful, sneaky, cunning, and rather likeable (even though, at the same time, he is unlikeable, if that makes any sense). He has flaws (lying, scamming, not caring for his siblings), but there is just something about him that makes you want to root for him.
The story is excellent. It breaks the mold of science fiction and crosses boundaries. As I read, I felt that in some ways it was very fantasy; in others (particularly that it takes place in "current" times), it was very sci-fi. There is action, but there is also some character study. Overall, the effect is great and is convincing. And while the pace at the beginning was a little sluggish, it picked up quite a bit and became very engrossing (I didn't want to put it down!).
Lastly, Zelazny does an outstanding job describing. He spends much time detailing the surroundings, what people are wearing, character's looks, etc. He paints a vivid picture of his vision and doesn't leave me confused about where Corwin is at any time.
What I Did Not Like:
Zelazny may have gone a little far in some of the descriptions. The biggest time I felt this was when Corwin first finds the cards of his siblings. A solid three or more pages is spent on what each is wearing, their appearance, etc. By the time I got to the 7th child, I was practically skimming the descriptions (after a while, they all started sounding the same).
This next "problem" may be due to reading the book in snippets, but I felt that it took a long time for Corwin to realize who he was. Before he learns who he is, a good chunk of the book is spent with Corwin and Random traveling to Amber. Again, this could be because I read it spread out in chunks, but I thought I might mention it.
Lastly (this is more of an interesting thing to note than a problem), it seemed like none of the characters could breathe without a cigarette. Of course, this was written in the 60's - 70's so that might explain the perpetual cigarette.
Dialogue/Sexual Situations/Violence:
Da**, he**, and other mild profanities appear (nothing worse than a PG movie, I would say).
Moire is described as being topless (although not in a sexual manner, more like a Xena Warrior Princess way). A couple sleep with each other (though "off-screen" and described poetically).
When Corwin escapes the hospital, he uses a bludgeon to knock out his guard. Then he pulls a gun on the director of the facility. When Flora's home is invaded, Random and Corwin get to use swords and guns. Another scene includes a battle between Random, Corwin, and Julian. A storm on Amber leaves all the soldiers dead. A character's eyes are put out.
Overall:
Are you looking for some fun? A way to relax from the stresses of life? Something outside of the box? A little bit of sci-fi, a little bit of fantasy? A good place to start could be Zelazny's Amber books, particularly this one. A fun idea coupled with a unique setting gives this book an edge to stand the test of time (I mean, this was written way back in the day, after all). A great way to spend an afternoon or two.
A man wakes up in a hospital room, without memory of who he is or exactly how he got there. All he knows is that was badly injured and currently being drugged. After escaping the hospital, he discovers his sister, Flora, who tells him that his name is Corwin. He meets up with his brother, Random, who leads him to Amber, a mystical world, which unlocks his memory and reawakens his desire to rule over Amber.
What I Liked:
The first page really drew me in. We meet a man lying in a bed, realizing groggily that he is being drugged and has no idea who he is. I like how we learn about him at the same time he does (no long boring, unnecessary exposition here; it's all a part of Corwin's learning about himself and his history).
Corwin is resourceful, sneaky, cunning, and rather likeable (even though, at the same time, he is unlikeable, if that makes any sense). He has flaws (lying, scamming, not caring for his siblings), but there is just something about him that makes you want to root for him.
The story is excellent. It breaks the mold of science fiction and crosses boundaries. As I read, I felt that in some ways it was very fantasy; in others (particularly that it takes place in "current" times), it was very sci-fi. There is action, but there is also some character study. Overall, the effect is great and is convincing. And while the pace at the beginning was a little sluggish, it picked up quite a bit and became very engrossing (I didn't want to put it down!).
Lastly, Zelazny does an outstanding job describing. He spends much time detailing the surroundings, what people are wearing, character's looks, etc. He paints a vivid picture of his vision and doesn't leave me confused about where Corwin is at any time.
What I Did Not Like:
Zelazny may have gone a little far in some of the descriptions. The biggest time I felt this was when Corwin first finds the cards of his siblings. A solid three or more pages is spent on what each is wearing, their appearance, etc. By the time I got to the 7th child, I was practically skimming the descriptions (after a while, they all started sounding the same).
This next "problem" may be due to reading the book in snippets, but I felt that it took a long time for Corwin to realize who he was. Before he learns who he is, a good chunk of the book is spent with Corwin and Random traveling to Amber. Again, this could be because I read it spread out in chunks, but I thought I might mention it.
Lastly (this is more of an interesting thing to note than a problem), it seemed like none of the characters could breathe without a cigarette. Of course, this was written in the 60's - 70's so that might explain the perpetual cigarette.
Dialogue/Sexual Situations/Violence:
Da**, he**, and other mild profanities appear (nothing worse than a PG movie, I would say).
Moire is described as being topless (although not in a sexual manner, more like a Xena Warrior Princess way). A couple sleep with each other (though "off-screen" and described poetically).
When Corwin escapes the hospital, he uses a bludgeon to knock out his guard. Then he pulls a gun on the director of the facility. When Flora's home is invaded, Random and Corwin get to use swords and guns. Another scene includes a battle between Random, Corwin, and Julian. A storm on Amber leaves all the soldiers dead. A character's eyes are put out.
Overall:
Are you looking for some fun? A way to relax from the stresses of life? Something outside of the box? A little bit of sci-fi, a little bit of fantasy? A good place to start could be Zelazny's Amber books, particularly this one. A fun idea coupled with a unique setting gives this book an edge to stand the test of time (I mean, this was written way back in the day, after all). A great way to spend an afternoon or two.
The bones of this book are great: it’s first 50 or so pages of the main character trying to figure out his past in very clever ways was extremely entertaining and engaging. And the world Zelazny builds, while not as fleshed out as I’d like and sometimes explained in a very muddled way, was incredibly intriguing. Corwin as a character was pretty engaging, and his brother Random was by far the best character.
But wow, are there so many missteps. For a book that’s the first in a series of 10, it skips huge chunks of what would be engaging and important exposition is a very weird decision that doesn’t pay off at all, especially considering the book is literally 175 pages. There are multiple times where some version of “I won’t bore you with the details” is written???? And while some of the final plot devices were hinted at early, there is a hilarious amount of deus ex machina in the final 50 pages.
Ultimately, I’m not going to hunt down the rest of these books. But if I come across them, there’s enough good here that I’d probably give a sequel or two a chance, especially since they’re short.
But wow, are there so many missteps. For a book that’s the first in a series of 10, it skips huge chunks of what would be engaging and important exposition is a very weird decision that doesn’t pay off at all, especially considering the book is literally 175 pages. There are multiple times where some version of “I won’t bore you with the details” is written???? And while some of the final plot devices were hinted at early, there is a hilarious amount of deus ex machina in the final 50 pages.
Ultimately, I’m not going to hunt down the rest of these books. But if I come across them, there’s enough good here that I’d probably give a sequel or two a chance, especially since they’re short.
Коли почав читати, згадав, наскільки сильно мене бісять сюжети з амнезією. Це дуже ледачий спосіб поступово розкривати перед читачем усі карти. І якщо декілька сцен, де Корвін вдає, що розуміє, про що йдеться, можна потерпіти, то коли воно тягнеться і тягнеться і тягнеться далі, винести це стає неможливо. Ну і мені не подобається Корвін, що також не спонукає продовжувати.